The Podcast: Bellinghistory Inked

Tattoo Tales

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SUMMARY

In this episode we discuss the history of tattoos and tattooing in Bellingham and beyond. Find out what the newspapers were reporting about tattoos, who was getting them, who was giving them and who was getting arrested for showing them off!

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Slide Show

Circus Sideshow Poster

(reproduction)

Capt. Costentenus

Regarded as one of the very first "Tattooed" persons to be exhibited in a circus sideshow in the 1870s and 1880s.

Charles Wagner, NYC

Gus and Maude Wagner

"Tommy Ray"

Vaudevillian who performed in Bellingham in 1904, known for his singing and his tattoos

The "True Love" Bandit

Charles Hopkins was arrested in Skagit County in 1914

Professor Johnson

Tattoo Expert? Ad appeared in 1906

Oregon Ben

Tattooed by Prof. Hugo Spitzer. Photo from the Warwick collection of the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives.

Hugo Spitzer

Tattooed in the PNW in the early 1900s

Fred Marquand

Tattoo pioneer of Bellingham

Feb 29, 1940

Fred demonstrated modern methods of tattooing to the Bellingham Yacht Club in 1940.

Fred Marquand Flash

As appeared in book "Electric Tattooing, Experienced Work, Fred Marquand" by Nick Ackman.

Marquand's back piece done by George Fosdick

Tattooed Sailor Trouble at the Pastime, 1936

"Doc Forbes" Hendry and wife "Princess Wee Jean"

Arrested for "illegal entry" after spending several days in Bellingham in 1937. Forbes was a tattoo artist in Victoria and Vancouver B.C.

Fred and Caroline were married in Bellingham in 1942

Michel DeWitz in the Herald, 1981

DeWitz and Marquand met in Fred's later years, DeWitz moved to San Francisco to work for Lyle Tuttle.

Kalamalka Studio opened in 1993

One of the woman owned and operated 1990s shops offering body piercing as well as tattoos.

Camden Chameleon opened in 1997

The legacy continues as "Chameleon Ink" today on State Street.

The newly opened "Old School Tattoo" in the year 2000

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References and Resources

The Art of Misogyny: The Struggle of Female Tattooists in an Industry of Men Alison Waller, Sarah Lawrence College 

Tattoo You: A History of Tattooing in New York City

Ancient ink: Iceman Otzi has the world's oldest tattoos | Smithsonian Institution

Legal status of tattooing in the United States - Wikipedia

The Civil War Roots of the US Military’s Tattoo Culture Matt Fratus, CoffeeOrDie

Sailor Tattoos - Wikipedia

Martin Hildebrandt Wikipedia

The Curious Life of Martin Hildebrandt Art World Confidential

Captain George Constentenus Wikipedia

Edison’s Electric Pen

Samuel O’Reilly Wikipedia

Samuel O’Reilly Tattoo Archive

Charlie Wagner(1875-1953) Tattoo Archive

Charlie Wagner, the Inventor of Modern Tattooing

A Touch of Tattoo History on Charlie Wagner from Bikernet

Exhibition: ‘The Original Gus Wagner: The Maritime Roots of Modern Tattoo’ at the South Street Seaport Museum, New York.  Art Blart. Marcus Bunyan.

The Swashbuckling Origins of One of America’s Greatest Tattooers Hyperallergic

See Rare Images From the Early History of Tattoos in America Olivia B. Waxman, Time Magazine. 

Maude Wagner Wikipedia

Portrait of Mrs. Maud Stevens Wagner Library of Congress

Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture reopens ‘Body of Work: Tattoo Culture’ exhibition

MoPop Celebrates…The Art Of The Tattoo With “Body Of Work” Exhibit – Seattle Gay Scene

Body of Work: Tattoo Culture (Mopop Exhibit 2021)

Grace Darling - Wikipedia

Night of the Hunter (film) Wikipedia

The Clash - Death or Glory (Official Audio) - YouTube

“Electric Tattooing, Experienced Work: Fred Marquand”  Nick Ackman Blue Letter Books 

Pittsburgh Tattoo Art Museum

Tattoo History 13: Doc Forbes

Tattooist "Doc" Forbes Hendry practices his art in 1964 CBC Archives

Making a Mark: The Evolution of Seattle’s Tattoo Culture Elise Wang, The Spectator

  6 Historic Women Who Shaped Tattoo History Jennifer R Donnelly

History of Madame Lazonga Tattoo

Female Pioneers in Tattooing. Kelsey Walker. Liquid Amber Tattoo. 

Miscellaneous Tattoo History - Tattoo Archive - Tattoo History A-E

1933 book – Tattoo Secrets of a Strange Art by Albert Perry 

Tattoos in the Old West by Marshall Trimble | Oct 18, 2022 | True West Blog 

A bunch of really great articles at Buzzworthy are apparently offline, but can be found via the Wayback Machine via these URLS:

https://buzzworthytattoo.com/edwin-thomas-infamous-bowery-tattooer/

https://buzzworthytattoo.com/a-tattooed-affair-earliest-tattooed-attractions/

https://buzzworthytattoo.com/portland-oregons-early-tattoo-traditions/

https://buzzworthytattoo.com/tattoo-artists-tattooed-people/sailor-george-fosdick-tattooer/

http://www.buzzworthytattoo.com/pacific-northwest-tattooers-oregon-ben-friends/

We used many and various other historical resources for this episode, including archived issues of the Bellingham Herald, Fairhaven Times and other news publications accessed via subscription sites. Contact us if you need details!